04/09/06 - NNHS Newsletter
Palm Sunday

"On the next day much people that were come to the feast,
when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him,
and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel
that cometh in the name of the Lord."

- John 12: 12-13 (KJV)
      

   I could bluff my way through Palm Sunday, even though I no longer personally observe it. (Yes, Latter-day Saints are Christians, but placing more emphasis on the Atonement of Jesus Christ than we do on the full Holy Week observations of most other Christian religions, we acknowledge the day, rather than celebrate it).  However, Passover begins at sundown on April 12, and I've no idea which song I should seek, so I'm begging and pleading for help and suggestions!  Thanks so much!

   YOWZERONI-RINI!!!  David, you gorgeous creature!  You are NOT whining!!!  I think you certainly have earned the right and privilege to acknowledge pain!  GOOD GRIEF!!! .....

Hey, thanks for the kind thoughts, and heck, I could care less about who knows I'm having surgery. I just don't want anybody ..... thinking "poor David", because this is really nothing. Oh yeah, it's cervical something or other, to remove 2 bone spurs, then the doc will put some titanium plates & screws & stuff in there. He'll be going in through the front of my throat, which frankly, I think is a bonus. I mean, think about it, that means I'll have another opening to put ice cream & junk food into. At least I'm pretty sure I'll be able to do that. On second thought, I may check with the doc. Anyway, no problem.

Okay, gotta go for now, I just got back from my pre-op tests, so I've got some catching up to do. It's hard to get a lot done when you can't stand to sit for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

See ya later, d

   Okay, Gorgeous, I hope this weekend is bringing you some much needed rest.  We'll keep you and your family in our prayers - particularly on Thursday, even though it's "really nothing".  We'll miss your outrageous goofiness while you're healing.  Do take care of yourself!

   Thanks, Herbie! And Happy Easter to you, too!

   Add them I did!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html

   Thanks, Roberta!

Today's newsletter really caught my attention in a couple of very special ways, one of which has to do with the National Anthem. I just read a number of the 4th of July memories, and listening to the National Anthem in the background gives me the same goosebumps as always. I know that, as a student it was a piece of music that had to be played well, but as an adult it became more and more important, because I was responsible for how it was to sound. When I worked as a band director, I had the responsibility to teach my players to play the National Anthem, for athletic events mostly, though not exclusively. Over the years, this was learned and performed not only by the marching, concert and jazz bands, but also by smaller groups - usually 2 or 3 trumpets, a horn and a trombone, and a snare drum, if available, though it would be effective with as few as 1 or 2 trumpet players, for example. It had to be just right... not too fast, not too slow, certainly not maudlin or funereal, and with the pride evident in the style of each of the 4 sections, especially the last. As a musician, playing or conducting, I sometimes would see the determination in Mr. Wilson's face, and often hoped he would approve. 

We always worked on it until, in my mind, our rendition was worthy to be performed. It was never left alone once it was learned, either, but was reviewed to keep it right-whatever group was to play it. (How important did I say this was?) Musicians in our bunch may remember the Moffitt series of marching band arrangements (or maybe that came along after we graduated), and I have found no better - not even the DOD version. At one school, I was able to send the band into the gymnasium during concert band rehearsal on basketball nights, and have the drum majors conduct the anthem. To me it is one of the most important pieces of music I ever taught, rehearsed, or played, and I made sure my players knew it well. I have played it myself on many occasions with various players, including especially my son, and have played it with Germans, Canadians, and Spaniards. When the occasion included 2 nationalities, as is often the case lately with Alte Kameraden, those who served in Germany, for example, and know the language, sing along with the Germans as their anthem is played, and those Germans who know our anthem, sing along with us as we play it. Both remove their hats and render a salute for the other. We support each other at events where we are together. 

Since I am fortunate enough to be able to continue playing, it is still, to me, one of my most favorite things to play, whatever part I play, and certainly one of the most important. We have all seen and heard some performances of the National Anthem where the performance gets in the way of the spirit of the piece. The one on our 4th of July site is great, I think! It is important that the people who hear our anthem at any occasion feel it was 'nice', as opposed to 'not nice.'

Thanks again for the great work you do - you do more good than you will ever know.

Jimmy

   Jimmy Sweetie, I rather expected to hear from you, now but what you wrote astounded me.

   (And I do remember the Moffitt series - and I played some of those very same pieces years later as I participated in a municipal band in Ste. Genevieve, MO.)

   I remember now as I searched for that musical background, I checked many different versions of the National Anthem before finding just the right one - just the one I thought Mr. Wilson himself would choose.  I think for all of us he set a standard of excellence that has rarely been paralleled by anything which followed.  All seven of my children participated in band, and only occasionally would I think, "Okay, they got it all right that time.  Mr. Wilson would have been pleased."

   The fact that you as a musician approved of my selection really means a great deal to me.  Thank you so much for your letter!

   Y'all owe it to yourselves to purchase one of these fabulous CDs featuring Jimmy's group, Alte Kameraden.  His first trumpet with its pristine notes can be clearly discerned, and it will transport you to two or three other places as you listen to these beautiful German favorites.

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/TYPHOONMART.html

   OOOOOH, Major Madagan!  You know how I love hearing of y'all having these little reunions!!!  How truly wonderful - for both of you!

   Thanks for sharing that, Adonis!

Could you give me the web page for the Dawn Lovelies? I know it was included in one of your many letters, but I cannot remember. Thank you for all your hard work. Also need your address again to send you a little something in appreciation. Thanks again for every thoughtful effort.

Judy

   Ahhh - two easy questions - my favorite kind!

   The Dawn Lovelies were actually featured in old Anchor advertisements for Dawn's Dry Cleaning and Laundry Service, so they're in the Our Old Stomping Grounds section (my fave!):

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/OOSG-C-G.html

          http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/dawn.html

   Looky-looky!!  I see your sister Pat, and my sister Eleanor, and Kiddy and Judy and Nancy and Evelyn and Joan and Evelyn and Steve (Steve?!?  Oh well, we've always known he was lovely.....) and  Marilyn and Phyllis.......

   "Romper-Bomper-Stomper- Boo.  Tell me, tell me, tell me, do...."

   Oh, no, that was Romper Room.........

   And, oh yes - my address.  It's actually included on every Newsletter I send, on my business card just above the song lyrics and all the cool credits at the bottom of the page (well, okay, today's credits are rather sedate and boring, but they're usually cool!).  But just in case you can't decipher the small print, it says:

Carol Buckley Harty
219 Four Ply Lane
Fayetteville, NC 28311-9305

   Thanks so much, Judy!

   Oh, of course!  GIGGLES!!!

   Thanks, David - and Tommy!